I have been inspired to post an update and what better day than a cool spring day. Here is my rhododendron bush that was here when we moved in 4 years ago. It was in sorry shape and it has been my goal to bring it back to it's glory days (if it even had glory days). My efforts were for nothing last year as it didn't even BLOOM. Well, unless you count that ONE that popped out in the fall, a little behind schedule. I have been trimming off the dead branches and have watered it with miracle grow a few times, fertilized it this spring and most recently put a little grub ex around it as I have seen many grubs in the lawn and everywhere else in our yard. So, this spring it is looking much better, but still not up to par compared to the ones in all our neighbors' yards. Yes, I have Rhodo-envy.
I think all my plants are stuck in a time warm and bloom later than all others in the area. Here my lilac bush, though healthy, is blooming now while most are finished.
This Rose Bush was planted a couple years ago and is doing well. This corner of the yard seems to have good soil, or something as the plants here are much better than the rhodo corner. I planted myrtle in both corners and the rhodo corner stuff seems to be hanging on by a hair, while this stuff is doing quite well.
Ring around the peach tree. I planted marigolds (good for warding off bugs with their skunk like smell) and petunias. The cosmos (dill-like leaves) grew on their own - must have seeded themselves last fall. I don't think they are technically a perennial, so this was awesome. They are popping up all over. Extra cool that I planted them from seed rather than transplanted some nursery plants.
This raspberry bush is thriving, yeah! Sophia will be very pleased this summer. It has quadrupled since I took those pictures early May.
My tomatoes look like they are about ready to be staked. Maybe later... haha.
I started planting my "mescalin salad mix" in rows and then changed my mind. Why do we NEED straight, perfect rows? I then went with the scatter method. I thinned my lettuce last year and regretted it as it didn't produce much. This time around we will see out it does without thinning. I doubt we will even get to eat this lettuce, though. If the "ducks" don't get it, surely our yard bunnies will.
This little patch is right up there with the cosmos pride. I planted "4 O'clock Mix" last summer from seed. Then I harvested the seeds as they were really easy to do and I thought, what the heck. I managed to save them ALL winter in a sand toy bucket where they hung out in our dining room. It is ultra impressive that the kids didn't scatter them across the floor. Anyway, I planted these harvested seeds and they ARE GROWING! yay me.
Ok, so this one is a little embarrassing. In the middle is the lambs ear that I transplanted to this side of the garden. Then those small ones that are neatly placed around it are actually WEEDS that I TRANSPLANTED there. Ugh! I thought they were little lambs ears popping up near the big one. I find it very interesting how weeds around plants can take on such similarities to the "good" plants. I guess I have some weeding ahead of me... 
Here is my parsley BUSH. This little area is taking on a life of it's own. Just HOW big is it going to get? I don't know what to do with it even.
Here is a nice wild iris. I saw the leaves coming up and almost pulled them out. But they were pretty, so I let them stay. Today I just discovered it was actually a wild iris. yeah!
Here is my phlox. Not so perky. Here I thought these things were hardy and took care of themselves. I have been "babying" mine and this is what I get.
My summer bulbs are coming up. Not as plentiful as they were planted, but hopefully more will come up. In the back is the Dahlia's and in front are the freesia.
Lilies are holding their own with the ducks. Quack. Peony doesn't seem to be growing very quickly in front. Hmmm.
I believe these are the Tigridis bulbs I planted. I hope.
More Cosmos popping up among the petunias along Petunia lane.
Yard bunny spotted eyeing the "good corner"
Petunia Lane. A passing neighbor gave me a little petunia tip - when the bloom whither, cut them right at the base of that stem. I now walk around the yard and carefully inspect them all and nip off all the mostly whithered blooms. I have even been a little quick on the draw and perhaps picked them a little prematurely. Flower OCD.
Front step patch...
Ok, so I think my planting is almost done... Maybe. For now. Went out and treated myself to some more b-day/ mother's day plants, yay me! Filled up the pots on the driveway with Marigolds as they have been most successful there over the past couple of years. They are pretty, but stinky, so this is a good location for them. My late blooming tulips are still in blooming which adds some nice variety here.
Here my ducks are feasting on the lilies I planted last year. the lilac bush and tree I planted a few years ago are doing really well. Wahoo! Still don't have very many blossoms yet. maybe next year...
Here we see my new "creeping phlox" that I hope will some day creep around a nice section of my garden. Planted a new rose bush here and transplanted some daffodils and iris' over here.
This is my "herb garden". The parsley has taken care of itself (probably why it is doing so well) - I left it over the winter and it just started growing again on it's own. I bought these basil plants and hope to make pesto at the end of the season.
This is the rest of my vegetable garden. MUCH less extensive than last year. Just have three tomato plants and about 6 cucumbers. Not banking on much for the cukes, but we'll see...
Here grows my Myrtle, Daffodils, petunias and some iris'. 
Petunia lane. 
I really like the variety here - late blooming tulips, iris leaves popping up, newly planted petunias, a few marigolds and some sweet woodruff. 
More petunias... 
And last but not least, we have the rose bush, peony bush, myrtle, petunia, daffodil, marigolds and cosmos that seeded themselves last fall. Yay spring!
Some close ups of my new tulips and daffodils.
Most favorite tulip.
I think all my plants are stuck in a time warm and bloom later than all others in the area. Here my lilac bush, though healthy, is blooming now while most are finished.
This Rose Bush was planted a couple years ago and is doing well. This corner of the yard seems to have good soil, or something as the plants here are much better than the rhodo corner. I planted myrtle in both corners and the rhodo corner stuff seems to be hanging on by a hair, while this stuff is doing quite well.
Ring around the peach tree. I planted marigolds (good for warding off bugs with their skunk like smell) and petunias. The cosmos (dill-like leaves) grew on their own - must have seeded themselves last fall. I don't think they are technically a perennial, so this was awesome. They are popping up all over. Extra cool that I planted them from seed rather than transplanted some nursery plants. 
This raspberry bush is thriving, yeah! Sophia will be very pleased this summer. It has quadrupled since I took those pictures early May.
My tomatoes look like they are about ready to be staked. Maybe later... haha.
I started planting my "mescalin salad mix" in rows and then changed my mind. Why do we NEED straight, perfect rows? I then went with the scatter method. I thinned my lettuce last year and regretted it as it didn't produce much. This time around we will see out it does without thinning. I doubt we will even get to eat this lettuce, though. If the "ducks" don't get it, surely our yard bunnies will.
This little patch is right up there with the cosmos pride. I planted "4 O'clock Mix" last summer from seed. Then I harvested the seeds as they were really easy to do and I thought, what the heck. I managed to save them ALL winter in a sand toy bucket where they hung out in our dining room. It is ultra impressive that the kids didn't scatter them across the floor. Anyway, I planted these harvested seeds and they ARE GROWING! yay me.
Ok, so this one is a little embarrassing. In the middle is the lambs ear that I transplanted to this side of the garden. Then those small ones that are neatly placed around it are actually WEEDS that I TRANSPLANTED there. Ugh! I thought they were little lambs ears popping up near the big one. I find it very interesting how weeds around plants can take on such similarities to the "good" plants. I guess I have some weeding ahead of me... 
Here is my parsley BUSH. This little area is taking on a life of it's own. Just HOW big is it going to get? I don't know what to do with it even.
Here is a nice wild iris. I saw the leaves coming up and almost pulled them out. But they were pretty, so I let them stay. Today I just discovered it was actually a wild iris. yeah!
Here is my phlox. Not so perky. Here I thought these things were hardy and took care of themselves. I have been "babying" mine and this is what I get.
My summer bulbs are coming up. Not as plentiful as they were planted, but hopefully more will come up. In the back is the Dahlia's and in front are the freesia.
Lilies are holding their own with the ducks. Quack. Peony doesn't seem to be growing very quickly in front. Hmmm.
I believe these are the Tigridis bulbs I planted. I hope.
More Cosmos popping up among the petunias along Petunia lane.
Yard bunny spotted eyeing the "good corner"
Petunia Lane. A passing neighbor gave me a little petunia tip - when the bloom whither, cut them right at the base of that stem. I now walk around the yard and carefully inspect them all and nip off all the mostly whithered blooms. I have even been a little quick on the draw and perhaps picked them a little prematurely. Flower OCD.
Front step patch...
